The Fulton County Board of Education extended Superintendent Mike Looney's contract through Nov. 10, 2029, at its work session Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The action, described in the district's board bulletin, keeps Dr. Looney leading a district that serves nearly 83,000 students, including families in Sandy Springs. The bulletin did not detail the vote count or financial terms.

Dr. Looney opened his report by marking the Marine Corps' 251st birthday, sharing a personal reflection on beginning his own service in 1981. He also thanked Fulton County voters for approving the E-SPLOST referendum, which will allow the district to keep collecting a one-cent sales tax that funds school improvements, technology, safety upgrades and facility work without raising property taxes.

Attendance falls short

Chief Academic Officer Brannon Gaskins presented attendance and discipline data covering the first 53 days of the school year. The numbers showed 88.3% of students attend school at least 90% of the time. The district's target is 90%.

High schools have the highest rates of chronic absenteeism, according to the presentation. Students with disabilities and several learning zones were flagged as areas needing extra support. The district said it is strengthening attendance monitoring, increasing school-level accountability and sharing effective practices across campuses.

Discipline data was somewhat brighter. While the total number of incidents stayed roughly the same as last year, fewer students were involved. Both in-school and out-of-school suspension days declined.

Employee survey shows gains

Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Eric Hollinhead reported that nearly every classroom is now staffed by a qualified teacher, with stronger substitute coverage across the district. Fulton County Schools (FCS) employs more than 11,000 full- and part-time staff serving nearly 83,000 students.

An independent employee survey conducted in spring 2026 found overall workplace experience at 63%. Employee commitment rose 8%, the largest improvement measured in the survey.

Policy drafts reviewed

The board reviewed four policy drafts during its pre-work session: gifts to staff, employee transfers, teacher evaluation appeals and student safety. The pre-work session allows the board to receive policy drafts and provide feedback.